Analyzing the intersectionality of Korean pop and youth civic engagement, a research team from the Development Communication Division of the WVSU College of Communication presented their research “From stans to active citizens: Spaces and motivations for civic (re)engagement in K-pop fandoms in the Philippines” at the 10th Philippine Korean Studies Symposium (10PKSS) last April 28-29, 2025 at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.

 

Joesyl Marie D. Aranas, faculty of DevCom Division, worked with third-year development communication students, Lyann Marie S. Española and Sarah Margaret G. Gavile, to make sense of the growing youth civic disengagement and apathy among the current generation.

 

The study posits that today’s young people didn’t lose their civic sensibilities; it merely shifted to new modes.

 

The research team, all fans of Korean pop music and culture, looked into one of the most novel and emerging spaces where young people practice their active citizenship, “fandom-driven civic engagements.” This is where members of K-pop fandoms launched donation drives during national emergencies, volunteered in environmental and education causes, and supported advocacies for social change.

 

The study identified the type and level of civic engagement conducted by Philippine fandoms, focusing on initiatives of Philippine-based BTS ARMYs, and mapped these efforts into the existing civic engagement space. They also explored what motivates fandoms to conduct these civic actions. Furthermore, the study supports the recommendations of various existing literature that calls for the redefining and reconceptualizing of youth civic engagement and active citizenship.

 

This study is a product of a research mentoring program fostered by the College of Communication’s Development Communication Division and the WVSU Development Communicators’ Society.

 

“These collaborative research efforts of our faculty and students have demonstrated the impact that comes when students are empowered to explore the topics that genuinely matter to them. We plan on harnessing and exploring more of that, given how multidisciplinary communication research can be,” said Dr. Rona Dhel Alingasa, dean of the College of Communication.

 

This international symposium was organized by the UP Korean Research Center and sponsored by the Korean Foundation.

 

Text by Joesyl Marie Aranas

Photo by UP Korean Research Center and UP Department of Linguistics